web01.fireside.fm Sun, 05 Apr 2026 07:19:12 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development - Episodes Tagged with “Economic Development Strategy” https://podcast.econdevshow.com/tags/economic%20development%20strategy Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:15:00 -0500 Dane Carlson explores the strategies, ideas, and insights that are driving economic development forward into the future. You'll hear new insights from passionate ED's about their successes and struggles, and you'll learn from attraction and retention experts about how to apply actionable strategies inside your EDO. We'll help take your organization, your community, and your career to the next level. en-us episodic Actionable economic development strategies and stories Dane Carlson Dane Carlson explores the strategies, ideas, and insights that are driving economic development forward into the future. You'll hear new insights from passionate ED's about their successes and struggles, and you'll learn from attraction and retention experts about how to apply actionable strategies inside your EDO. We'll help take your organization, your community, and your career to the next level. no econ dev, economic development, ed Dane Carlson show@econdevshow.com 212: How Incentives Really Influence Site Selection with Taylor Stepp https://podcast.econdevshow.com/212 2e897335-9f43-4e0a-968d-b6832b704d1e Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:15:00 -0500 Dane Carlson 212 How Incentives Really Influence Site Selection with Taylor Stepp full Dane Carlson A conversation with Taylor Stepp about how incentives really work in corporate location decisions and how communities can design faster, smarter, more competitive development processes. 23:57 no In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Taylor Stepp, Founder and President of Strategic Development Partners, about the real role incentives play in economic development deals. Drawing on experience working with corporations and communities across the country, Taylor explains how incentives influence project internal rate of return, why applicability and customization matter more than flashy packages, and how responsiveness and speed from local governments can win projects even when incentive dollars are smaller. The conversation also explores how communities can structure clearer processes, communicate timelines, and position themselves to compete more effectively for major investment. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Taylor Stepp. econdev, economic development, eco devo, economic development incentives, site selection, corporate location strategy, internal rate of return, economic development strategy, tax abatements, project competitiveness, permitting timelines, site selection consultants, economic development deals In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Taylor Stepp, Founder and President of Strategic Development Partners, about the real role incentives play in economic development deals.

Drawing on experience working with corporations and communities across the country, Taylor explains how incentives influence project internal rate of return, why applicability and customization matter more than flashy packages, and how responsiveness and speed from local governments can win projects even when incentive dollars are smaller.

The conversation also explores how communities can structure clearer processes, communicate timelines, and position themselves to compete more effectively for major investment.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Special Guest: Taylor Stepp.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Taylor Stepp, Founder and President of Strategic Development Partners, about the real role incentives play in economic development deals.

Drawing on experience working with corporations and communities across the country, Taylor explains how incentives influence project internal rate of return, why applicability and customization matter more than flashy packages, and how responsiveness and speed from local governments can win projects even when incentive dollars are smaller.

The conversation also explores how communities can structure clearer processes, communicate timelines, and position themselves to compete more effectively for major investment.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Special Guest: Taylor Stepp.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> 211: How Video is Changing Economic Development Marketing with Lyndsay Wisneski https://podcast.econdevshow.com/211 3057fd9f-316c-4e49-9377-336b7d05f548 Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:15:00 -0500 Dane Carlson 211 How Video is Changing Economic Development Marketing with Lyndsay Wisneski full Dane Carlson A conversation about how economic developers can use storytelling, film, and targeted digital marketing to attract companies and build pride in their community. 31:25 no In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Lyndsay Wisneski, Chief Marketing Officer of the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation, about how storytelling and modern marketing strategies can transform economic development. Lyndsay shares how Yuma built a powerful regional brand through industry-focused mini-documentaries, digital advertising campaigns, and a coordinated content strategy that turns a single video project into years of marketing assets. She explains how even small communities can market themselves effectively by highlighting local companies, repurposing content across platforms, and tracking real marketing ROI. The conversation explores why economic development should focus less on static statistics and more on authentic stories that help companies, site selectors, and residents connect emotionally with a place. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/). 10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Let companies tell your story. Interviews with CEOs and business leaders are more persuasive than marketing copy. Create industry-focused content that explains why companies in each sector succeed in your region. Turn one project into many assets: long videos, short clips, photos, reports, and social media content. Use short video ads to drive viewers to longer storytelling pieces on your website or YouTube. Track website visitors and identify companies researching your region. Send periodic industry-specific newsletters highlighting local expansions, infrastructure, and investment. Use LinkedIn and targeted digital ads to stay visible to site selectors and executives. Repurpose marketing content across guides, one-pagers, websites, and presentations. Hire local creative talent who can update or expand your content over time. Apply for marketing awards to boost credibility and morale inside your organization and community. Special Guest: Lyndsay Wisneski. econdev, economic development, eco devo, economic development marketing, place branding, Yuma Arizona, storytelling marketing, regional branding, site selectors, digital advertising, community marketing, industry attraction, economic development strategy In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Lyndsay Wisneski, Chief Marketing Officer of the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation, about how storytelling and modern marketing strategies can transform economic development. Lyndsay shares how Yuma built a powerful regional brand through industry-focused mini-documentaries, digital advertising campaigns, and a coordinated content strategy that turns a single video project into years of marketing assets. She explains how even small communities can market themselves effectively by highlighting local companies, repurposing content across platforms, and tracking real marketing ROI. The conversation explores why economic development should focus less on static statistics and more on authentic stories that help companies, site selectors, and residents connect emotionally with a place.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here.

10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Let companies tell your story. Interviews with CEOs and business leaders are more persuasive than marketing copy.
  2. Create industry-focused content that explains why companies in each sector succeed in your region.
  3. Turn one project into many assets: long videos, short clips, photos, reports, and social media content.
  4. Use short video ads to drive viewers to longer storytelling pieces on your website or YouTube.
  5. Track website visitors and identify companies researching your region.
  6. Send periodic industry-specific newsletters highlighting local expansions, infrastructure, and investment.
  7. Use LinkedIn and targeted digital ads to stay visible to site selectors and executives.
  8. Repurpose marketing content across guides, one-pagers, websites, and presentations.
  9. Hire local creative talent who can update or expand your content over time.
  10. Apply for marketing awards to boost credibility and morale inside your organization and community.

Special Guest: Lyndsay Wisneski.

Sponsored By:

Links:

  • Lyndsay Wisneski | LinkedIn
  • GYEDC - YouTube
  • Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation
  • Yuma Industry Guide
  • Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation: Linkedin
  • Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger — "In this book, Berger breaks down the science behind why some ideas, products, and stories spread widely while others fade into obscurity. Rather than leaving “virality” to chance or big advertising budgets, he identifies six key principles; Social Currency, Triggers, Emotion, Public, Practical Value, and Stories, that help explain why people share what they share and how marketers can intentionally craft content that spreads. What made Contagious particularly influential to me is how it reframes marketing from broadcasting messages to creating content and experiences that people want to talk about and can’t help sharing with others. It’s taught me that effective marketing isn’t just creative, it is rooted in understanding human psychology, what motivates people to share, and how to design campaigns that become part of everyday conversations, not just interruptions."
]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Lyndsay Wisneski, Chief Marketing Officer of the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation, about how storytelling and modern marketing strategies can transform economic development. Lyndsay shares how Yuma built a powerful regional brand through industry-focused mini-documentaries, digital advertising campaigns, and a coordinated content strategy that turns a single video project into years of marketing assets. She explains how even small communities can market themselves effectively by highlighting local companies, repurposing content across platforms, and tracking real marketing ROI. The conversation explores why economic development should focus less on static statistics and more on authentic stories that help companies, site selectors, and residents connect emotionally with a place.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here.

10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Let companies tell your story. Interviews with CEOs and business leaders are more persuasive than marketing copy.
  2. Create industry-focused content that explains why companies in each sector succeed in your region.
  3. Turn one project into many assets: long videos, short clips, photos, reports, and social media content.
  4. Use short video ads to drive viewers to longer storytelling pieces on your website or YouTube.
  5. Track website visitors and identify companies researching your region.
  6. Send periodic industry-specific newsletters highlighting local expansions, infrastructure, and investment.
  7. Use LinkedIn and targeted digital ads to stay visible to site selectors and executives.
  8. Repurpose marketing content across guides, one-pagers, websites, and presentations.
  9. Hire local creative talent who can update or expand your content over time.
  10. Apply for marketing awards to boost credibility and morale inside your organization and community.

Special Guest: Lyndsay Wisneski.

Sponsored By:

Links:

  • Lyndsay Wisneski | LinkedIn
  • GYEDC - YouTube
  • Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation
  • Yuma Industry Guide
  • Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation: Linkedin
  • Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger — "In this book, Berger breaks down the science behind why some ideas, products, and stories spread widely while others fade into obscurity. Rather than leaving “virality” to chance or big advertising budgets, he identifies six key principles; Social Currency, Triggers, Emotion, Public, Practical Value, and Stories, that help explain why people share what they share and how marketers can intentionally craft content that spreads. What made Contagious particularly influential to me is how it reframes marketing from broadcasting messages to creating content and experiences that people want to talk about and can’t help sharing with others. It’s taught me that effective marketing isn’t just creative, it is rooted in understanding human psychology, what motivates people to share, and how to design campaigns that become part of everyday conversations, not just interruptions."
]]> 209: Building a Cross-Border Economic Engine with Heath Vescovi-Chiordi https://podcast.econdevshow.com/209 293f3f9e-7aed-48ac-8db8-5756fb64f71a Mon, 16 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600 Dane Carlson 209 Building a Cross-Border Economic Engine with Heath Vescovi-Chiordi full Dane Carlson How Pima County is leveraging cross-border trade, university research, and strategic policy to drive regional growth across 9,000 square miles of Southern Arizona with Heath Vescovi-Chiordi. 24:20 no In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Heath Vescovi-Chiordi, Director of Economic Development for Pima County, Arizona, to explore how one of the largest counties in the country balances rural biodiversity, cross-border trade with Mexico, aerospace and optics clusters, semiconductor workforce development, and even controversial data center projects. Heath shares how a four-and-a-half-person team coordinates across municipalities, tribal nations, academia, and public health to execute a regional strategy that blends quantitative results with qualitative community engagement. From a $1.2 billion battery manufacturing project to evolving policies on nondisclosure agreements and enhanced due diligence, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at modern county-level economic development in action Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Heath Vescovi-Chiordi. econdev, economic development, eco devo, Pima County, Tucson Arizona, cross-border trade, USMCA, semiconductor workforce, aerospace cluster, optics and photonics, data centers, public land development, economic development strategy In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Heath Vescovi-Chiordi, Director of Economic Development for Pima County, Arizona, to explore how one of the largest counties in the country balances rural biodiversity, cross-border trade with Mexico, aerospace and optics clusters, semiconductor workforce development, and even controversial data center projects.

Heath shares how a four-and-a-half-person team coordinates across municipalities, tribal nations, academia, and public health to execute a regional strategy that blends quantitative results with qualitative community engagement.

From a $1.2 billion battery manufacturing project to evolving policies on nondisclosure agreements and enhanced due diligence, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at modern county-level economic development in action

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Special Guest: Heath Vescovi-Chiordi.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Heath Vescovi-Chiordi, Director of Economic Development for Pima County, Arizona, to explore how one of the largest counties in the country balances rural biodiversity, cross-border trade with Mexico, aerospace and optics clusters, semiconductor workforce development, and even controversial data center projects.

Heath shares how a four-and-a-half-person team coordinates across municipalities, tribal nations, academia, and public health to execute a regional strategy that blends quantitative results with qualitative community engagement.

From a $1.2 billion battery manufacturing project to evolving policies on nondisclosure agreements and enhanced due diligence, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at modern county-level economic development in action

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Special Guest: Heath Vescovi-Chiordi.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> 207: Speed to Market as an Incentive with Ellie Reynolds https://podcast.econdevshow.com/207 b0021da6-9bcc-46c9-b816-cbe12b2ed35f Sun, 01 Feb 2026 00:15:00 -0600 Dane Carlson 207 Speed to Market as an Incentive with Ellie Reynolds full Dane Carlson A practical conversation with Ellie Reynolds on signaling “open for business” through speed, infrastructure, regulatory reform, and strategic growth in Douglas County, Colorado. 27:54 no In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Ellie Reynolds, President and CEO of the Douglas County Economic Development Corporation, to unpack how one of Colorado’s fastest-growing counties balances quality of life, infrastructure investment, regulatory realities, and speed-to-market. Ellie shares how Douglas County positions itself along the Front Range, why shovel-ready infrastructure matters more than incentives alone, how cutting red tape became a competitive strategy, and what economic developers can do locally when state-level constraints get in the way. The conversation also dives into AI as a staff multiplier, coalition-building for regulatory reform, and why economic development is ultimately about reducing risk, not forcing growth. Like this show? Please leave us a review here (https://econdevshow.com/rate-this-podcast/) — even one sentence helps! Special Guest: Ellie Reynolds. econdev, economic development, eco devo, Douglas County Colorado, economic development strategy, speed to market, shovel ready sites, red tape reduction, infrastructure investment, permitting reform, Front Range Colorado, business attraction, economic development leadership In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Ellie Reynolds, President and CEO of the Douglas County Economic Development Corporation, to unpack how one of Colorado’s fastest-growing counties balances quality of life, infrastructure investment, regulatory realities, and speed-to-market.

Ellie shares how Douglas County positions itself along the Front Range, why shovel-ready infrastructure matters more than incentives alone, how cutting red tape became a competitive strategy, and what economic developers can do locally when state-level constraints get in the way.

The conversation also dives into AI as a staff multiplier, coalition-building for regulatory reform, and why economic development is ultimately about reducing risk, not forcing growth.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Special Guest: Ellie Reynolds.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]> In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson sits down with Ellie Reynolds, President and CEO of the Douglas County Economic Development Corporation, to unpack how one of Colorado’s fastest-growing counties balances quality of life, infrastructure investment, regulatory realities, and speed-to-market.

Ellie shares how Douglas County positions itself along the Front Range, why shovel-ready infrastructure matters more than incentives alone, how cutting red tape became a competitive strategy, and what economic developers can do locally when state-level constraints get in the way.

The conversation also dives into AI as a staff multiplier, coalition-building for regulatory reform, and why economic development is ultimately about reducing risk, not forcing growth.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps!

Special Guest: Ellie Reynolds.

Sponsored By:

Links:

]]>